Joy Jackson is in her 18th season with the softball program after being promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in 2004. She joined head coach Jo Evans in the trek from Utah to Aggieland in the summer of 1996 after serving one year as a full-time assistant coach for Evans and the Utes.

Jackson is responsible for coaching the outfielders, base running and lefty slap at A&M. In addition, Jackson is the recruiting coordinator and manages administrative duties. During her tenure at A&M, 17 Aggie outfielders were voted All-Big 12, including the entire 2004 and 2005 Aggie outfield.

Jackson first served under Evans as a student assistant coach at Utah in 1990. In 1991, Jackson served as an assistant softball coach at Murray High School, in Murray, Utah, while also completing her degree in health science. After helping the Spartans reach the Utah High School State Tournament in her first season, Jackson was promoted to head coach in 1992. While leading Murray to a return trip to the state tournament, Jackson also doubled as a volunteer assistant coach under Evans at Utah and helped guide the Utes to a berth in the NCAA regional tournament.

Raised in Plain City, Utah, Jackson served as an assistant coach for Melinda Fischer at Illinois State from 1993-95. In her final season before returning to Utah, Jackson helped lead Illinois State to the Missouri Valley Conference title, as well as a berth in the NCAA tournament for the first time in seven years.

A four-year letterwinner at Utah from 1986-89, Jackson played both third base and outfield during her career. As a sophomore, she helped lead the Utes to the 1987 High Country Athletic Conference title and secure a trip to the NCAA tournament. Jackson was voted team captain as a senior and also was named to the all-region first team.

Jackson is the daughter of Ken and Linda Jackson of Ogden, Utah. She is the youngest of four children and the only girl. Jackson's older brothers include Lynn, of Layton, Utah, Lonn, Ogden, Utah and the late Nedd of Plain City, Utah.